Mouse Food

[Double Trouble]

Thats the way you do arbors the epoxy takes up the voids as you slide the grip up the butt.One more thing as you slide the grip up the butt slowly turn it that helps spread the epoxy.

 

[Leprechaun]

Crabman - T 'Dubs has it right. Go back to my three threads and take another read-thru and look at how it's done. It's all right there.

 

[Crabman]

I read and re-read. With the short grips I can see and understand how you did it. What I'm confused with is how I build up 12" of the rear part of the blank up with it's reverse taper. My concern is voids of epoxy beneath the cork. EVA can handle voids. I'm afraid if I have voids with a long cork handle, the cork will crack at the void. Do you feel by spacing the masking tape, the masking tape becomes a dam so the epoxy isn't sucked out between the tape rings?

 

[Double Trouble]

If you are concerned about the grip breaking leave less space between them say a 1/2" that will still give the epoxy a place to go and it will fill most of the voids and support the grip.

 

[Leprechaun]

Crabbie - if you are concerned about "voids" there are two ways to address this.

One - really slather on enough epoxy that the space between the tape arbors are well filled as you push/twist the grip up from the bottom of the blank (which is what I showed in my three threads, albeit with shorter grips. Same principle though).

Or two - carefully hone the inside of your new cork grip so that it directly fits your blank without needing arbors. You would really have an easier task doing it this way if you have a tapered grip hone - like mine which I previously offered.

Either method will work fine.

What I would certainly NOT do is to wrap the entire blank with tape, because then you are depending on the tape's crappy adhesive to hold the grip on the blank instead of the epoxy, which would be effectively blocked from contact with the blank by the full-length wrapping of the tape. That WILL fail.

 

[Leprechaun]

There seems to be a problem with a double posting error. I will address this with George.

 

[Crabman]

I had a posting problem too. From above, I can do number 1 but not number 2. Due to the reverse taper from the butt to the reel seat, I can't get it to fit like if it was slipped down from the tip and tapered. I'm happy you said, do not tape the entire butt. I was planning to do that but after reading Double Trouble's suggestion and yours, I'm going to go with choice number 1 and place the tape so the spaces are closer together. Now it's just sit and wait for supplies.

 

[Crabman]

Thank you Lep and Double Trouble. With your help, my old classic is well on the way to being restored. The fit is snug on the butt but not too tight. I'm thinking I might have to open it up a bit more to make sure the epoxy doesn't wipe off while sliding it on. Should I skim coat the inside of the cork with epoxy before sliding it on?

 

[longcast]

Thank you Lep and Double Trouble. With your help, my old classic is well on the way to being restored. The fit is snug on the butt but not too tight. I'm thinking I might have to open it up a bit more to make sure the epoxy doesn't wipe off while sliding it on. Should I skim coat the inside of the cork with epoxy before sliding it on?

View attachment 89157

Looking great!

 

[Leprechaun]

Should I skim coat the inside of the cork with epoxy before sliding it on?

Nah, shouldn't be necessary. Just slather the blank and tape arbors well, especially the bottom of the blank and you should be G-T-G. Don't forget a generous supply of paper towels and the 91% rubbing alcohol to cut the excess epoxy paste And also to blue tape cover the crap out of your reel seat, prior to pushing the new grip up the blank.

And Happy New Year!

 

[Crabman]

Happy New Year. Got it. G-T-G. Be generous, be ready to clean up with alcohol and paper towels AND cover the crap out of the reel seat with tape.

 

[Leprechaun]

So. how'd we do?

Quick vid for further illustration:

 

[Crabman]

Stalled. Been cleaning the garage and working on Big Whitey along with a couple of old bass rods that need epoxying of butts into reel seat. Once I get everything ready, I plan to mix and butter them all up together. I'm really leaning to a complete rewrapping of Big Whitey. I was talking to John at Trophy and he showed me an old rod they did and it looked great. This rod is very cool and the reel is coming out really nice. Might as well continue with a complete rod rebuild. Thanks for the video.